Insofar as the deaths of racehorses, we have reported annual statistics and isolated cases. We have also followed (and contributed information on occasion to) Racehorse Memorial Wall Worldwide since its inception in 2005. We have not documented racehorse deaths ourselves.

Died from colic, not euthanized? Can you imagine the agonies these horses suffered? And the number of fractures is shockingly higher than I thought.

Bear in the mind, these are the reported deaths which is still done on a voluntary basis.

When I asked a horse racing industry leader when last in Lexington why they do not make reporting of injuries and deaths mandatory, he said it’s not something they like to do but feel forced to, and felt they would get more cooperation if they left it on a voluntary basis. Besides he added, it would be time consuming and expensive “to patrol” the tracks to see if they were conforming.

How about Sunland Park? I took a quick peek at their website (http://www.sunland-park.com/) and see they are a “racino” track which means there is a casino operating there too. In some instances, this has proven lethal to racehorses where contributions from casino earnings have boosted the prize money for the horse races.

At the very bottom of Sunland Park’s website are links to the Equine Protection Fund and the Equine Encore Foundation, noble enterprises no doubt. I expect however in the minds of those running Sunland Park they think it gives them some sort of credibility in the “caring” stakes.

Battuello provides many insights besides reports like the one above. Please support Horseracing Wrongs and raise public awareness concerning the death of racehorses by following and commenting on his site at http://horseracingwrongs.com/.

As long as there is money in horse racing the deaths will continue along with racing horses that are not old enough to race. Look at the ages of the young horses with numerous fractures, the attitude is get to them on the track to make as much money for the owners no matter what happens to the horse because they have plenty of young horses to take the place of the ones who go down. I am 100% against horse racing.

Agree with you on all points Barbara. I don’t see how letting a horse die of colic on his own, not put out of his misery by a veterinarian, is not a violation of animal cruelty statutes. I know New Mexico has very weak abuse laws when it comes to animals. This must change.

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